President Benigno S. Aquino III distributes vouchers for Scholarship Grants to beneficiaries during the Ceremonial Launch of Sajahatra Bangsamoro Program: Peace Dividends of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) at the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) in Barangay Salimbao, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on Monday (February 11, 2013). The strong partnership between the government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has become more evident as both sides work together in the process of identifying beneficiaries and their immediate needs that will be addressed by the Sajahatra Bangsamoro program. The FAB indicated that “the Parties agree to intensify development efforts for rehabilitation, reconstruction, and development of the Bangsamoro, and institute programs to address the needs of MILF combatants, internally displaced persons, and poverty-stricken communities.” In photo is MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. (Photo by: Ryan Lim / Malacañang Photo Bureau).

MANILA, July 28 (Mabuhay) – The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) achieved “good progress” over the weekend on contentious issues in the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, the government’s chief negotiator said Monday.

“We met over the weekend and made progress on two important articles pertaining to fiscal autonomy and the structure of the Bangsamoro government,” government peace panel chairperson Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said in a statement, without elaborating what this “progress” was.

President Benigno Aquino III is push for the passage of the law creating the Bangsamoro political entity in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday afternoon, she added.

Coronel-Ferrer likewise apologized to Congress for not being able to submit the draft law.

“I guarantee that we will have a good draft BBL and we commit to work with Congress in any way the legislators see fit. We call on the public to keep the faith and to join our collective effort for peace and development in Mindanao,” she said.

The government and the MILF peace panels will observe a break in observance of Eid’l Fitr, but will reconvene after the Muslim holiday, she added. (MNS)